A lifeboat was tasked to help a stricken family aboard a broken down holiday cruiser on Loch Ness yesterday (SUN) afternoon while its crew members were being interviewed for a radio show.
Loch Ness lifeboat was launched at about 3.30pm after the Coastguard was was alerted to smoke coming from the engine compartment of the vessel, which was drifting three miles north of Fort Augustus.
A husband and wife and their five-year-old daughter were aboard the cruiser.
Crew members Neil Hillyard, Jamie Young and Garry MacLeod made the 25-minute journey to help them on the Atlantic 75 class lifeboat “Colin James Daniel.” (CORRECT)
When they arrived, Mr Young boarded the vessel and carried out routine safety checks.
The engine of the cruiser had been switched off and volunteers decided not to try switching it on again and towed it to a mooring at Fort Augustus.
None of the family, from Drumnadrochit, was hurt.
Crew member Jamie Young said: “We found the family aboard wearing their lifejackets and having carried out all the correct safety procedures provided to them.
“By isolating the engine they did absolutely the right thing to prevent the situation worsening and their early call to HM Coastguard meant we were able to get on scene quickly and effect a good, well practiced rescue.”
As the distress call came in, volunteers were being interviewed for the BBC’s Out of Doors programme.
